A WIDE WORLD OF PLANT-LIFE 



33 



we pass innumerable Fungus-growths — ^Mildew and 

 Blight, Toadstools and Mushrooms — some of which are 

 poisonous, and some have unpleasant smells. But all 

 are in their nature vegetable. 



Nor must we omit to 

 note, in passing, the 

 vast array of Seaweeds ; 

 real plants these also. 

 Most of us know well 

 the pretty little branch- 

 ing red ones ; and the 

 wide brown ribbons ; 

 and the slimy green 

 kinds ; but enormous 

 numbers besides are 

 found in other parts 

 of the world. 



All these — Lichens, 

 Fungi, Seaweeds — be- 

 long to the great Lower 

 Division of Flowerless 

 Plants. 



So also do the Mosses, 

 farther up; and the 

 huge brotherhood of 

 Ferns, higher up still. 



But when we get to the Mosses and Ferns, we see 

 that we have made a very important advance. They 

 come much closer to the Higher Division ; for they have 

 roots and stems and something very like leaves. Practi- 

 cally, the fronds take the place of leaves, and also they 

 take the place of flowers. 



FROND OF COMMON SEAWEED 



{Fucus Vesiculosus.) 



